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AUSTIN,  February  18,  1861. 


Q/o  trfe/    S&>\ 


on. 


Sir  : — It  is  a  duty  pleading  to  me,  to  com- 
municate to  you  the  fact  that  the  sections  of 
our  State  Lunatic  Asylum  which  have  been  for 
the  last  two  years  under  contract,  are  at  length 
completed,  and  will  be  ready  on  the  loth 
of  March  ensuing,  tor  the  reception  of  those 
for  whom  the  benevolence,  and  philanthropy  of 
our  State  Legislature  have  erected  and  de- 
signed the  Institution.  But  to  obviate  the  in- 
convenience of  any  disappointment  on  the 
part  of  immediate  or  future  applicants  for  ad- 
mission, I  respectfully  beg  leave  to  call  your 
attention, and  also  that  of  the  community  in  gen- 
eral to  the  Legislative  Enactments  and  Ordi- 
nance of  the  Board  of  Managers,  by  both  of 
which  the  Superintendent  must  be  undeviating- 
ly  controled. 

It  is,  I  trust  unnecessary  to  make  any  spe- 
cial reference  to  the  particular  sections  of  the 
statute  relative  to  legal  proceedings  necessary 
to  be  taken  in  sending  patients  to  the  Asylum, 
as  the  Superintendent  must  in  all  cases  act  in 
accordance  with  the  Statute  and  By-Laws  gov- 
erning the  Institution,  a  copy  of  which  is  here- 
with transmitted  to  all  the  Chief  Justices  in 
the  State.  It  is  therefore  recommended  aud 
confidently  hoped,  that  both  the  Statute  and 
By-Laws  will  be  strictly  complied  with  by  the 
Courts. 

To  remove  the  remotest  occasion  of  incon- 
venience and  additional  expense,  and  every 
pretext  of  complaint  or  disappointment,  it  has 
been  deemed  advisable  by  the  Board  of  Mana- 
gers to  District  the  State,  (that  all  may  avail 
themselves  of  equal  advantages,)  making  the 
Senatorial  division  of  thirty-three,  the  estab- 
lished standard  ;  and  as  sixty  patients  is  the 
highest  number  that  can  be  accommodated 
under  any  circumstances,  it  is  therefore  evi- 
dent that  not  more  than  two  places  can  at 
any  time  be  justly  claimed  by  each  District, 
while  those  of  one  years  standing    and  under, 


it  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  Seetion  14,  Old- 
ham k  While's  Digest,  page  310,  have  an 'inva- 
riable right  of  preference  over  chronic  cases, 
and  the  latter  over  private  patients.  Notice 
will  also  be  given  at  such  times  as  when  va- 
cancies may  occur  by  the  discharge  of  some  of 
the  inmates  or  otherwise;  or  if  one,  or  more  of 
the  districts  already  enumerated  scoui 
no  applications  to  make,  the  vacancies  thus 
occurring  may  be  lulled  up  from  other  locali- 
ties having  a  greater  number  than  provided 
lor  by  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

Trusting  then  to  Divine  assistance,  and  as- 
suring you  that  diligent  attention  and  caro 
shall  neither  be  neglected  nor  omitted  Da  our 
part, 

I  am  Respectfully, 

Your  Ob't  Sv't., 

B.  GRAHAM,  M.  D. 
'cal  Officer  and  Sup't. 

N.  B. — The  Superintendent  would  call  par- 
ticular attention  of  all  interested  to  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  passed  by  the  Board  of 
Managers,  viz  : 

"Re-solved  1st,  That -the  Chief  Justices  of  coun- 
ties shall  in  all  instanced  ascertain  from  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Texas  State  Lunatic 
Asylum,  if  there  is  a  vacancy  in  the  Asylum, 
before  sending  patients. 

And  whereas,  misunderstandings  as  to  the 
interpretation  of  responsibility  on  the  pa.t  of 
counties  on  account  of  patients  sent  who  may 
not  have  resided  in  the  counties  for  the  pe- 
riod of  six  mouths  or  more.  It  is  thefore  fur- 
ther 

Resolved,  That  the  counties  sending  patients 
will  in  all  instances  be  required  to  pay  for  big 
or  her  board,  clothing,  and  delivery  to,  ana 
removal  from  the  Asylum.  Said  ] 
be  made  quarterly  in  advance  as  provided  for 
in  the  By-Laws." 


peanulife* 

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